A former San Diego State University police sergeant has pleaded guilty to possessing more than 600 files of child pornography, including videos depicting children believed to be as young as 6 years old, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Paul Aurelio McClain, 46, was a sergeant with the SDSU Police Department when Homeland Security Investigations raided his Menifee home in March 2025 and seized multiple digital devices. Investigators found the files while conducting a broader investigation into peer-to-peer networks used to share child sexual abuse material. An undercover agent had identified McClain's computer as a source of illegal material.

Among the files recovered were videos described in court documents as depicting minors, including at least one victim who appears to have an intellectual disability, engaged in explicit sexual acts. Investigators also found a recording from what appeared to be a hidden camera inside a bathroom at the Menifee home where McClain lived with his wife and three children.

SDSU acknowledged the arrest within days, removed McClain from duty and initiated termination proceedings. He has been in federal custody since his March 2025 arrest.

McClain faces up to 20 years in federal prison and will be required to register as a sex offender upon release. Sentencing is scheduled for June 24 in federal court. While SDSU is located in the College Area neighborhood of San Diego, the university draws thousands of students from across East County. The case has raised questions about background vetting of law enforcement personnel with access to campus communities.